Apparatus for launching torpedoes



Filed May 1, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l lax;

Feb. 10,1942. H. SCOTT-PAINE APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEEOES Filed May 1,1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 10, 1942. H. SCOTT-PAINE APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed May 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MM, @942 r Patented Feb. 10, 1942 NT FFEQE Hubert Scott-Paine, Hythe, Southampton, England Application May 1, 1940, Serial No. 332,629 In Great Britain October 14, 1938 1 Claim.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to launching torpedoes and has for its object to provide a launching gear'suitable for comparatively small high-speed motor boats such as 7.0 ft. multi-engine boats.

In such boats, the weight of the torpedo is an unusually high portion of the total weight of the vessel from which it is discharged, so that a comparatively severe shock is transmitted to the vessel when the torpedo is discharged. One object of the invention is to minimise the effect on the boat of the shock occasioned by the discharge ,of the torpedo.

According to this invention a torpedo tube or like launching gear for use above the water level is so constructed that the torpedo tube is movable in the direction of its length, and resilient means are provided between the tube and a fixed part of the mounting so as to absorb the recoil shocks occasioned by the discharge of the torpedo.

In a preferred construction the tube is mounted on a frame with pivoted joints between the framemembers arranged to allow movement of the tube in the direction of its length, and the frame is braced by shock absorbing members arranged to resist movement between the frame-members.

The frame is preferably provided with members in the form of legs inclined upwards and forwards and pivotally secured at their upper ends to the torpedo tube so that the recoil forces tend to swing the tube upwards, and a shockabsorbing member may extend diagonally from the top of each forward leg to a fixed support adjacent the bottom of the rear leg.

The tube is preferably mounted in a fore-andaft direction and is adjustable about a vertical axis disposed a quarter to a third of the length of the tube from its rear end into two or more positions, in each of which it can be fixed, one of which is an outboard position with the discharge end of the tube adjacent to or overhanging the gunwale or edge of the deck and the other of which is an inboard position.

It is desirable that the tube and its mounting should be of as light weight as is practicable, and arranged to discharge the torpedo near the water level. The provision of a special outboard position for the tube ensures that the tail end of the torpedo does not foul the vessel when discharged, without necessitating the tube being mounted at a considerable height above the deck as was necessary with the case of the fixed tubes commonly used hitherto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for the purpose of facilitating loading of the torpedoes into the tube.

According, therefore, to a further feature, the torpedo tube mounting is so constructed that the torpedo tube may be moved into two or more inboard positions, for successively loading torpedoes. The torpedoes are carried in or set in suitable positions in the deck, and the tube is brought into alignment successively with each torpedo so that the handling of it is reduced to a minimum.

A number of examples of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the torpedo tube with its mounting.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tube shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the forward part of the supporting frame, on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, showing the forward legs of the frame in an alternative construction.

Figure 5 is a cross-section through an alternative form of resilient mounting for the rear legs of the frame.

Figures 6 and 7 are similar views to Figure 5 showing still further alternative mountings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the torpedo tube 5, carrying the torpedo indicated at 6, is mounted on the deck of the boat I near the aft end 21 and normally rests in a fore-and-aft position near the gunwale 31.

The torpedo tube 5 is carried by a frame consisting, in this example, of pairs of two similar closed frameworks. Each framework consists of forward and aft legs 9 and 8 extending forwards and upwards and connected by longitudinal channel frame members I0 and I I. A diagonal shockabsorbing member I5, comprising suitable springs and damping devices contained in the part 25, extends from the top of each forward leg 9 to a position adjacent the bottom end of each aft leg 8 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The tube 5 is provided with a cradle 26a and the members 8 and 9 of each frame are pivotally connected to an upper frame member II and to the tube 5 at I2, a recoil thrust ring 26 being provided around the tube at the forward end. The legs 8 and 9, are pivoted to supports, which will be described below, at 3| and 2I respectively The shock-absorbing member I 5 is pivotally connected to the aft support at 35 and to the forward end of the member I I at 45.

The torpedo tube normally rests on two cradles I3 and I4 which are secured between the bottom longitudinal members I0. When the torpedo is discharged the recoil forces tend to swing the legs 8 and 9 upward and such upward movement lifts the tube 5 off the cradles I3 and I4 so that the total weight of the tube 5 and torpedo therein is utilised for partially absorbing the recoil shock. In addition, the diagonal members I5 resist the ranged to run in a curved guideway I1. By this arrangement, therefore, the tube can be swung over the arcuate guideway to an outboard position in which the discharge end is adjacent the gunwale 31, as in the position shown in Figure 2,

or into an inboard position for loading torpedoes, as indicated by the line 4'! in Figure 2. Further, in this example, there are two or more inboard positions, and the torpedoes are arranged on the deck in positions such that the tube can be swung successively into line with them and thus the loading of each torpedo is facilitated.

The torpedo tube 5 may also be adjustable into a second outboard position as indicated by the line 51 in Figure 2, at a further angle to the centre line of the boat.

Any suitable means may be provided for fixing the guide I8 in the guideway I! at any one of the required positions, for example, by means of removable stops, but preferably a self-locking screw-and-nut mechanism, shown in Figure 2, is used for moving the guide I8 along the guideway I'I, consisting of a rod 68 connected to the guide I8, and having a threaded portion engaging an internally-threaded member I secured to the deck-house 61. A handle 69, inside the deck-house, operates the mechanism.

As shown in Figure 3, the forward starboard leg 9 of the frame is shaped to allow the guide 28 to remain in the guideway I! when the tube is in its outboard position.

As an additional or alternative form of resilient shock-absorber, the aft legs 8 of the frame may be mounted on the turntable 22 by means of torsionally resilient members at 3| (see Figure 1). In one construction as shown in Figure 5, the lower ends of the legs 8 are rigidly mounted on a tube or barrel through which a suitable steel bar 52 extends. This bar 52 is keyed at one end 53 of its length to the inside of the tube 5I and the other end 54 of the bar 52 is rigidly secured to the turntable or longitudinal members III. Similar torsion members connected between the forward vertical legs 9 and the members I0 may be provided at the points ZI. Instead of the torsion bar 52 various forms of rubber coupling may be used, the rubber being arranged to take the stresses in shear.

Thus, as shown in Figure 6, a known form of coupling is provided comprising two disc-like members 56 set face-to-face with rubber facings 50 between them and secured to each disc. The two discs are formed at the ends of tubular members 58 secured to the arms 8 and pivotally mounted in the turntable; andv preferably a plate 59 formed on the turntable is interposed between the rubber facings 50.

When compressed air is to be used as the discharging medium for the torpedo, the torpedo tube carries on its outer surface one or more containers I9 for compressed air. These containers are tubular in form and extend lengthwise of the tube and any desired number of them may be provided around its periphery. In the present example, there is a single air container. The containers are filled with high pressure air of the order of 3000 lbs. per square inch and a reducing valve 20 is provided between the high pressure container and the interior of the torpedo tube. Each high pressure container may be provided with a separate reducing valve communicating with the breech end of the tube, or a single reducing valve may be provided with a suitable rotary valve whereby it can be put in communication with the various high pressure containers successively.

In the modified construction illustrated by Figure 4, the tube is mounted so as to be readily detachable from the frame. A ring I00 is fixed around the tube and carries a bracket II on each side. The upper members I I of the frame are provided with flat palms I02, which are bolted to the bracket II by bolts I03. Further brackets I05 on the sides of a ring I04 fixed around the tube 5 each carry a pad supporting the member II at the point I45 where the diagonal member I5 is connected to the upper member II. By removing the securing nuts I03 and I06, the whole tube 5 may be lifted off the frame.

In an alternative construction, shown in Figure 7, the frame comprises longitudinal members 60, which carry the torpedo tube. The legs 8 are pivotally secured to the frame, and at the aft end of the frame the pivotal connections are provided with a certain degree of universal motion by rubber bushings 62 surrounding the pivot pins 63. A similar pivotal connection is provided between the legs and the anchorage plate 64; with this arrangement the swinging movement of the frame into its different inboard and outboard positions is accommodated by slight angular movement of the rear legs aforesaid in 0pposite directions, and this latter effect may be accompanied by a small angular rotation of the frame attachments relative to the tube. This construction simplifies the mounting of the frame on the vessel and distributes the stresses in a more satisfactory fashion.

I claim:

In combination with a torpedo tube, a support therefor comprising a turn-table adapted to be secured to the deck of a boat, a curved guideway adapted to be secured to the deck of the boat at a distance forward from said turntable, a slide cooperating with said guideway, lower longitudina1 frame members connecting said turn-table and slide, cradle means for supporting the said torpedo tube on said lower frame members, a pair of upwardly extending forward legs pivotally attached at their bottom ends to said slide and at their top ends to the torpedo tube, a pair of upwardly extending aft legs pivotally attached at their lower ends to said turntable and at their upper ends to the torpedo tube, the legs of said pairs being spaced apart so that the torpedo tube is between the legs of each pair, two upper longitudina1 frame members each of which is pivotally connected to the upper ends of a forward and aft leg, and two shock-absorbing members each diagonally and pivotally connected between said turn-table and the forward end of one of said last mentioned upper longitudinal members.

HUBERT SCOTT-PAIN E.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,272,727. February 10, 19LL2.

HUBERT SCOTT-PAINE.

It. is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, secand co lumn, line 50, strike out "pairs of" and insert the same before "forward" in line 52; and'line 58, before "torpedo" insert --the-; and that the said Letters Patent Should be read with this Correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 114th day of April, A. D. 1912.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

' Patent No.- 2,272,727. February 10, 191;.2.

HUBERT scoTT-PAINE Itis hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above nugnbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 1, sec- 0nd column, line 50, strike out "pairs of" and insert the same before- "forward" in line 52; and'line 58, before "torpedo" insert -the--; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this llpth day of April, A. D. 19L 2.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

